Railroad-tie.



Patented My 8, mm. B. H. SMITH. v RAILROAD TIE.

(Application filed Feb. 5, 1902.)

(No. Model.)

wva mtoz 1371/15 SmiZ 71,;

UNTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN HOSTETTER SMITH, OF SHIPPENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD-TIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,394, dated July 8,1902. Application filed Pebruary 5, 1902. Serial No. 92,632. (No model.)

To (Ll Z whont it 'IIMLZ/ coiwern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN HOSTETTER SMITH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Shippensburg, in the county of Cumberland and StateofPennsylvania,haveinvented certain new and usefullmprovements inRailroad-Ties; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to railway construction, and more particularly tothe provision of a tie or rail-sleeper which while comparatively simpleand cheap in construction will be found very durable and efficient inthe performance of its office.

The prime object of my invention is to so construct the tie that it canbe formed of comparatively cheap material and easily disposed in itsoperative position with the assurance that great permanency will beattained.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter be made clearly apparent,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1shows a side elevation of a trackrail, illustrating the end section ofthe ties or sleepers when disposed in their respective operativepositions. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a portion of the track-railillustrated in Fig. 1, showing one of the ties partly in side elevationand partly in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a top plan and an end viewof one of the ties, also showing the metallic reinforcing-plate. Fig. 4shows a side elevation, partly in section, of another form of tie, whileFig. 5 illustrates an end view of that form of tie constructionillustrated in Figs. 4 and 10 when provided with longitudinallydisposedbars. Fig. 7 is a side view, partly in section,of a tie properlyreinforced at the point of greatest strain. Figs. 8 and 9 arerespectively sectional views of the construction shown in Fig. 7. Figs.10 and 11 are respectively a side elevation, partly in section, and anend view of the tie provided with 1ongitudinal apertures, the tie beingof slightly difierent shape from that presented in Fig. 6.

For convenience in referring to the several features of my invention andthe elements deemed necessary to illustrate a practical applicationthereto to use, 1 designates the trackrail, of the usual or anypreferred construction, while 2 illustrates a preferred form of tiewhich is substantially rectangular in crosssection, though such shape oroutline maybe Varied at pleasure, it being understood that any preferredvariety of plastic or molten material may be employed. It is my object,however, to form the tie by molding the same from clays, molten slag, orthe like, so that the ties or sleepers will be of the desired form andconstruction, as illustrated in the drawlugs.

When the tie is formed of earthy matter, as above indicated, the samemay be properly reinforced, if desired, by combining with each tie ametal bar of proper size, said bar being designed to rest in thelongitudinal reoess 3, formed at the top of the tie and also at thebottom thereof, if desired, as indicated by the numeral 4.

It will of course be understood that the groove 3 may also be formed inthe bottom of the tie, which may or may not be occupied by areinforcing-bar, as may be preferred. The ties are properly embedded andsustained in any suitable form of cooperating substance suitable forforming a road-bed of permanent character-as broken stone, coarse gravelused alone or in combination with the proper quantity of cement or otherplastic material which in time will unite all the particles together toform a solid continuous mass.

It is obvious that the tie may be shaped or molded so as to assumevarious shapes or outlines, as indicated by the remaining views of thedrawings.

In Fig. 7 it will be observed that the body portion of the tie 5presents an invertedtrough-like appearance, each end of which isprovided with the integral rail-supporting sections 6, separated aproper distance to coincide with the gage of the track, thus disposingone of the rails over each of the sec tions 6.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrateda transverse section of the tie on line (1)0c of Fig. 7, and it will therefore be observed that the supporting orreinforcing sections 6 are oblong in form and provide reliable means forsustaining the weight of the rails and the load carried thereby. Byproviding the reinforcingsections 6, combined with the trough-like bodyportion 5 of the tie proper, it will be observed that when the tie hasonce been properly embedded in its operative position that saidreinforcing-sections,combined with a peculiar form of tie itself, Willreliably secure said tie against casual longitudinal or lateralmovement.

If preferred, the body proper of the tie in each and every instance maybe reduced in weight by providing a plurality of longitudinal apertures7, which may be readily formed during the process of molding or casting.It is well known that large quantities of molten slag are disposed of byfurnace-men upon the dump-pile and at great expense. Ifind, however,that I can employ such material to great advantage and profit in theconstruction of a tie or sleeper of permanent character adapted tocontribute very materially to the permanency of road-bed construction.In the form of tie illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 the under side thereofis provided with the longitudinally-disposed groove 8, designed to holdthe tie against lateral movement, and thereby insure that when the tiehas once been disposed in its operative position in the road-bed it willso remain. A similar groove 9 is also provided for the under side of thetie illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, said groove being designed for thesame purpose as above set 'forth. The rails may be securely fastened toeach of the ties by means of the locking-bolts 10, which extend upwardthrough suitable apertures 11, provided in the ties, the head of the.bolt 12 being preferably disposed upon the under side of the tie, sothat the free ends thereof will receive the nuts 13, and when said nutsare turned home upon the threaded ends of the locking-bolts they will'the manner of using the same it is thought will be fully apparent fromthe foregoing specification considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, and further reference, therefore, to the detailsis deemed unnecessary.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The herein-described tie formed of plastic or molten material andprovided upon its under side with means to engage the contiguous part ofthe road-bed whereby a longitudinal and lateral slipping movement willbe prevented, in combination with a reinforcing bar or bars fitting agroove in a contiguous part of the tie and means to hold saidreinforcing-bars in place and additional means cooperating With said tieand bars to engage the track-rails and lock them in union with saidparts,all combined substantially as specified and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJ. HOSTETTER SMITH.

WVitnesses:

F. H. SMITH, ANNA H.v SMITH.

